Razor.



H. H. SIMMS.

RAZOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 17, 1909.

Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

anvenl'oz H. H. SIMMS.

RAZOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR.17,1909.

Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

3 nven F0;

GOLD JEE. SIMMS, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 AUTO STROP COMPANY,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPOTION OF NEW YORK.

Specification of Letters latent.

a: non.

Patented Mar. so," rare.

. sion whereby the sharpening or stropping of the blade is made easier.

To these and other ends the invention consists in certain improvements and combinations of parts all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is an enlarged transverse section of one embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the same embodiment with the blade moved from cooperative relation with the guard; Fig. 3 is an enlarged side view of the same embodiment showing the guard and the blade separated and the handle shifted for stropping, a strop being shown in transverse section in cooperative relation to the blade; Fig. 4: is a plan view of the guard; Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively an enlarged vertical and an enlarged longitudinal section of another embodiment in which the blade swings away from the guard to a position parallel with the handle; Fig. 7 is an enlarged View of the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 in which the blade is shifted and a strop is shown in transverse section and in cooperative relation to the blade; Figs. 8 and 9 are respectively an enlarged vertical and an enlarged transverse section of still another embodiment in which the guard frame is detachable from the blade holder; Fig. 10 shows'this embodiment adjusted for stropping; Fig. 11 is a side view, partially in section, of another embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 12 is a detail View of the guard frame.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4 the blade and blade holder are movable together bodily away from the guard frame so that a space is formed through which a strop or other sharpener may be passed to cooperate with the blade.

site sides two guard portions 2 of any suitable form, while the blade holder is unsup ported between its ends and at its ends may carry supports 3 which serve as guides and cooperate with guide portions formed by the walls of slots 4: in the guard frame 1. The blade may be maintained in cooperative or shaving relation with the guard and also in stropping position by any suitable means. In the present instance, spring tongues 5 and 6 are struck up from the metal supports 3, the tongues 5 cooperating with the under surface of the guard frame to secure the holder in its lowered or shaving position, andthe tongues 6 cooperating with the u per surface of the guard frame to secure t e blade holder in elevated or stropping position. Iiaterally turned lugs 7 at the lower ends of the supports 3, or other stops, may limit the upward movement of the support.

The blade holder herein illustrated embodies two plates 8 and 9 held together by a thumb screw 10 or othen suitable means to the ends thereof and in shaving position it may lie .within a depression formed in the top of the guard frame lbetween the guard portions 2, relieving the tongues 5 of any strain during shaving owing to the engagement of the side edges of the plate 8 with the sides of the depression. The under surface of the plate 8 should of course be smooth and its edges may be curved in order to permit the 1 holder to travel freely over a strop or other.

sharpener.

The handle preferably lies perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the blade for shaving as this arrangement permits a better shaving action. The guard frame is provided with a suitable means for obtaining this end, said means in this instance embodying a perforated boss 13 which may be internally threaded to receive the end of a handle bolt 14: that is surrounded by a sleeve 15 forming the grip of the handle. Inthis position of the handle, the sleeve or grip thereof isheld against rotation preferably by a projection 16 on the boss entering a notch 17 in the end of the sleeve.

To the end that the handle and the blade may lie parallel to each other. so that the handle will be to one side of the longitudinal axis of the blade for stropping, means is provided for permitting the handle to be shifted to another position on the guard frame. This means may be in the form of a depending member or flange 18 at one end of the guard frame, provided with an internally threaded perforation 19 with the walls of which the end of the bolt 14; is adapted to be engaged in the manner shown in Fig.- 3. v The grip portion 15 of'the handle is now free to rotate so that on each shifting of the direction of movement of the razor over a strop or other sharpener, the blade edges will be shifted into or out of engagement with the-sharpener. This is due to the fact that the handle lies on one side of the plane of the blade and turns the blade holder about the longitudinal axis of the blade.

When the parts are in the positions shown in Fig. 3 a strop 20 is passed between the guard and the blade holder and the handle is grasped to move the razor back and forth over the sharpener to sharpen one side of each edge. If it is desired to sharpen the other side the position of the blade in the holder is reversed. After the sharpening has been completed the handle is attached, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and the blade holder pressed toward the' guard frame.

mes

The razor is now ready for use, the handle being held against rotation by the pro ection 16.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 5 to 7 one movement of the blade holder is sufiicient to separate the guards and the blade and to cause the latter and the handle to lie parallel for stropping. The guard frame 1 may be substantially the same as that shown in Figs. 1 to 4 with two guard portions 2, but the blade holder, instead of moving bodily away from the guard frame, swings about an axis 21 transverse to the longitudinal axis of the blade 11, the lower plate 8 being hinged to the guard at one end.

To secure the blade in cooperative or shaving relation to the guards, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6', the guard frame 1 may carry a spring latch 22 at the end opposite the hinge to cooperate with the. free end ofthe blade holder as shown in Fig. 6, while the position i of the blade away from the guards, as shown in Fig. 7, may be maintained by providing adepending arm 23 .on the blade holder in prox1mity to the hinge. This arm cooperates with the under surface of the guard frame, as shown in Fig. 7, to limit the outward movement of the blade holder and a spring latch 24 struck up from the metal of the guard frame cooperates with the arm to secure the blade holder in stropping position. The blade 11 has also a double edge and .is engaged between its edges by plates 8 and 9 forming the holder, the-lower plate being smooth on its under surface and lying, when in shaving position, within a depression in the guard frame between the guards 2. The plates are held together in any suitable manner. In the present instance, the I plate 8 has a screw 25 j ournaled therein with '30 which by engagement with the lower end of the sleeve 27 is adapted to move the latter axially so that its other or upper end, which is roughened at 31 or is otherwise formed with a clutch face, will. be moved into engagement with a roughened or clutch face 32 on the boss 29, thus holding the grip against rotation. Within the inner tube or sleeve 28 is arranged a spindle or rod 33 which at its lower end is provided with a thumb piece 34 and at its upper end has a washer 35 secured thereto to prevent its withdrawalfrom the inner sleeve 28. This rod or spindle 33 serves as an operatin member by which the screw 25 is controlle and to this end it is provided with a projecting portion 36 of non-circuluar cross section entering into a similarly formed opening 37 in the screw head 26 so that when the rod is rotated the screw will be rotated to tighten or loosen the plate 9, respectively, to clamp or to release the blade.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, the guard frame is adapted to be removed entirely from' the blade holder for the purpose of separating the blade and the guard or guards. The blade holder "is preferably formed by two plates 8 and 9 between which the double edged blade 11 is held, pins 12 on plate 8 passing through the blade and the plate 9 to prevent movement of the blade. The plate 9 is hinged at one end to the plate 8 and is secured at its other end preferably by a spring latch 38 on the plate 9 adapted to cooperate with the walls of a notch 39 in a supporting frame 40. The latter is rigidly secured to one end of the blade holder so said holder is unsupported between its ends, a portion of the frame 40 lying beneath but in spaced relation to the holder in order that there will be provided a space for the passage of a strop or other sharpener. The frame may have means, preferably in the form of an opening 41 with internally threaded walls, permitting the handle bolt 14 to be secured antennae the frame 40 and prevent the handle from turning when in shaving position. The frame 40 may also have "means which will permit the handle to lie parallel with the longitudinal axis of the-blade and to this end a perforation 42 with internally threaded walls is provided. When the bolt 14 is secured in this opening the grip portion can rotate freely so that the device may be manipulated in the same manner as that shown in Figs. 1 to 4.

The guard frame 1 has a depression between its guard portions 2 to fit beneath the plate 8 in the manner shown in Figs. 8 and 9. In order to support the guard frame in thisposition, one end of. said frame is provided with a projection 43 adapted to enter recess 39 in the frame 40. This projection may be held in recess 39 by a spring latch 44 arranged near the other end of the guard frame and adapted to enter and cooperate with the walls of an inclined recess 45 in the plate 8, said latch exerting a pressure in the direction of the length of the guard frame and being removable from the recess either by a pressure downwardly at ,46 or a pressure on the spring arm of the latch. A pressure on the latch also permits the latter to enter the recess after the projection 43 has beenfitted in recess 39.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 11 and 12 the bladeholder and the frame 40 are substantially the same as similar parts shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10. The handle 47 is not shiftable on the frame but is secured to an externally threaded hollow boss 49 so as to lie perpendicular to and on one side of the longitudinal axis of the blade.

The guard frame 1, instead of being entirely removable, is guided bodily away from the holder. Preferably this is efi'ected by notching one end of the guard frame to provide a guide 50 which coiiperates with the guide or support 40 at the end of the blade holder. The guard frame may also carry a plunger 51 which is movable in the handle,

the latter being made hollow for this punpose. To the end that the guard frame may be held in shaving position a nut 52isjournaled in the hollow boss 49 and is adapted to coiiperate with a threaded portion 53 on the lower end of the plunger. This arrangement permits the guards to be held at various distances from'the blade edges in order that the cutting action of the blade may be varied. Of course'the diameter of the threaded portion 53 is greater than the other portion of the plunger 51 so that thelatter may pass freely through the nut when dropped to stropping position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 11. During the stropping the handle will lie beneath the, strop but the action will be substantially the same as in the other embodiments, that is, when the razor is shifted at each end of the stropping movements the blade edge last engaged will be moved out of engagement with the strop while the opposite edge will engage the strop.

From the foregoing it will be seen that T have provided a safety razor in which the blade and the guard may be separated for stropping, the former being rigidly supported without removing it from the holder which supports it during shaving operation. I have also provided a safety razor in which the blade may be moved away from the guard and rigidly supported on the guard frame in stropping relation to the handle as distinguishedfrom supporting the blade directly on the handle. A further result obtained by me is that the handle during stropping lies to one side of the longitudinal axis of the blade so that an edge of the blade coiiperates with the strop or other sharpener when the razor is moved in one direction and automatically shifts away from the sharpener when the razor is moved in another direction, this operation having special advantages with a double edged blade as the two edges are alternately sharpened on the movement of-the razor. The structure permitting the foregoing also permits the handle to lie substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the blade for shaving so that a direct pull on the blade may be obtained.

T claim as my invention:

1. A safety razor comprising a guard and a plate to support the blade throughout 1ts length, means connecting said guard and plate so that all portions thereof are movable relatively in parallel lines to provide an opening between them from one end of the blade to the other for the passage of a sharpener transversely of the blade, and means for clamping a blade to said plate,

said clamping means being edective as a clamping means when the guard and the plate are separated.

2. lln a safety razor, a plate for supporting a blade throughout its length, a guard for cooperating with said plate, means connccting the guard and the plate so that they are'relatively and bodily movable to provide a space between them from one end of the blade to the other for the passage of a sharpener transversely of the blade, means for clamping a blade to said plate, said means being edective as a clamping means when the guard and the plate are separated, and means for rigidly holding'said plate against movement after the separating movement. I

3. A safety razor comprising a handle, a

55 1 handle to be supported on one of the first guard frame rigidly secured to the handle, a blade-supporting plate unsupported between its ends, and supporting connections between the adjacent ends of the guard frame and the plate, said connections having provision permitting the plate to be moved bodily relatively to the guard frame, and means for clamping a blade, to the blade-supporting plate, said clamping means being effective as a clamping means when a the guard frame and the blade supporting plate are separated.

4. A safety razor comprising a plate having a guard thereon, a blade supporting plate, means connecting said plates so that they are relatively movable to provide a space from one end of the blade to the other for the passage of a sharpener transversely of the blade, means for clamping a blade to the blade-supporting plate, said means being effective-as clamping means when the latter and the guard plate are separated, and a handle rigidly secured to one of the first two named elements.

5. A safety razor comprising a guard frame having a guard,a handle rigidly secured thereto, a blade-supporting plate,

means for securing. said plate against'movement out of operative relation with the guard and unsupported between its ends,

4 and means for clamping a blade to the tween the blade-supporting plate and the guard plate, and means for clamping a doua ble-edged blade to said blade-supporting plate, said means being effective as a clamping means when the guard plate and'the blade plate are separated.

' 7. In a safety razor, the combination with a guard frame and a blade holder, one of which is movable relatively to the other to expose the blade for stropping, of a handle,

means for .holding the blade against move ment relatively to the guard frame when spaced for stropping, means permitting the two named parts so that said handle lies perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the blade for shaving, and means permitting said handle to be supported on one of the v first two named parts so that the handleand the blade lie parallel. for stropping. 8; In a safety razor, the combination with a guard frame, and a blade holder, one of which is movablerelatively to the other to tioned away from the guard."

expose the blade for stropping, of means for holding the blade against movement relatively to the guard frame when spaced from the latter for stropping, a handle arranged on the guard frame for shaving so that the handle lies substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the blade, means permitting one of the two last-mentioned parts to be arranged on the frame in such a position that said parts will lie substantially parallel for stropping.

9. A safety razor comprising a guard frame carrying a guard, a blade holder for holding a blade in cooperative relation with the guard, said blade holder and guard being relatively movable to expose the blade for stropping, means for holding the blade against movement relatively to the guard when spaced from the latter for stropping, a handle, means permitting the handle and the blade holder to be supported on said' frame for shaving so that the handle is arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of a blade in the holder, and means permitting said parts to be arranged on said frame so that the handle and the blade holder will lie substantially parallel for stropping.

10. A safety razor comprising a guard frame carrying a guard, a blade holder for holding the blade in cooperative relation with-the-guard, said blade holder and guard being relatively movable to expose the blade for stropping, means for holding the blade against movement relatively to-the guard p when spaced from the latter for stropping,

a handle having a grip rotatable about an axis longitudinally of the handle, means permitting the handle and the blade to be arranged on the frame so that the handle lies 1% substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the blade for shaving, means for holding said grip portion against rotation during such arrangement, and means permitting the handle and the blade to be arranged on the frame so that the bladeand the handle lie substantially parallel for stropping.

11. A safety razor comprisinga guard, a blade, means permitting the blade to be rigidly secured out of 006 erative relation with the guard, and a ban e arranged arallel withand to one side of the longitu lnal axis of the blade when the latter is posi- 12. A safety razor comprising a doubleedged blade, a blade supporting plate adapted to support the double-edged blade between the'two edges thereof, guards cooperating with both edges, means for securing 12 the blade supporting plate out of cooperative relation with the ards to PIOVIdQ a space from one end of ti: blade to the other for. the passage of a sharpener transversely of the blade, and meansofor clamping the;.

greases double-edged blade to the supporting plate, said means being efiective as a clamping means when the guards and the supporting plate are separated.

13. A safety razor" comprising a bladesupporting plate, a double-edged blade supported between its two edges by said plate, a guard frame having guards coiiperating with both edges, and means connecting the blade-supporting plate and the guard frame to permit said parts to be moved relatively toprovide a space below the blade supporting plate from one end of the blade to the other for the passage of a sharpener transversely of the blade, and means for clamping the double-edged blade to the supporting plate, said means being effective as a clamping means when the guard frame and the blade-supporting means are separated.

14.. The combination with a guard frame having a guard thereon, of a handle secured to the guard frame, and a blade holder mounted on the guard frame and having rigid supports at each end guided on the guard frame to provide a space for the passage of a sharpener and means for holding the blade holder in cooperative relation with the guard on the guard frame.

having a guard along one edge and slotted near each end, of a handle rigidly secured to the guard plate, a blade supporting plate separate from the guard plate and having rigid supports depending from the ends thereof through the slots of the guard plate lying in and engaging opposite walls of the depression to permit the guards to coiiperate with the two edges of a blade in the holder and movable on the frame from the depressions to permit a sharpener to coiiperate with the edges of the blade and means for holding the blade holder in cotiperative relation with the guards on the guard frame.

HAROLD H. SIMS.

Witnesses:

Lnor A. VAN COURT, Nnrson Corn. v 

